You Need Hands / God Save The Queen (640 161) … French EP, A Malcolm Single?

7inch(en)

2026.04.08

Here We Go!
Introducing another piece from my Sex Pistols collection.

This time, I’m looking at a single related to The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle
You Need Hands / God Save The Queen (Symphonic Version)

This is a France-only release.

Both sides feature vocals by Malcolm McLaren.

Table of Contents

🧷 Basic Information

・Artist: Malcolm McLaren / Sex Pistols

・Format: 7-inch single (45RPM)

・Release date: June 1979

・Label / Catalogue number: Barclays 640.161 (BA105)

・Sleeve: Picture sleeve

・Side A: You Need Hands (Vocals: Malcolm McLaren)

・Side B: God Save The Queen (Symphonic Version) (Vocals: Malcolm McLaren)

Both tracks are the same versions as those found on the album.

▼ This is the original version released in 1958 by Max Bygraves.

・BLY. 640 161 A1

・BLY 640 161 B

The sleeve uses a still from the film The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle,
showing Malcolm singing and dancing.

Malcolm is the main focus, with the Pistols only appearing in the background.

French pressings often feature a matte black label with white text.

There is no band logo on the B-side.

・Side A：Producer – A. Pryce Jackman
　　　　　 Written-By – Irwin

・Side B：Written-By – Matlock, Rotten, Cook, Jones

This record feels more like a Malcolm release than a Pistols one.

Although it is a single cut from The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle,
it was only released in France, similar to
Anarchie Pour L’U.K. (640 162).

It seems the pressing quantity was relatively low (or it simply didn’t sell well),
and it turned out to be harder to find than expected.

Next time, I’ll be covering the 12-inch single
“Submission b/w Anarchy In The U.K.” (EXPORT 1).

Stay tuned.

byebye 👋